Storybooks to Share with Children

Ackerman, Karen and Catherine Stock illus. By the Dawn's Early Light. Aladdin, 1999. A gentle story that moves between Mom working the factory night shift and Rachel and her younger brother's nighttime routine with their grandmother.

Adoff, Arnold and Emily Arnold McCully illus. Black Is Brown Is Tan. Harpercollins, 1992. Two children with a "chocolate momma," a "white" daddy, and "granny white and grandma black" share the joys of being a family.

Aliki. Communication. Greenwillow, 1993. A book that explores the many forms and aspects of human communication. A great starting point for intergenerational communication.

Aliki. The Two of Them. Greenwillow, 1979. The story of a grandfather's relationship with his granddaughter, from her birth to his death.

Anderson, Laurie Halse and Dorothy Donohue illus. No Time for Mother's Day. Albert Whitman, 1999. As time runs out before Mother's Day, Charity comes up with the perfect gift for her too-busy Mom.

Anholt, Laurence and Dan Williams illus. The Magpie Song. Houghton Mifflin, 1996. Carla, who lives with her family in the city, shares a close relationship -- and a secret -- with her grandad in the country through the letters they write each other.

Arno, Iris Hiskey and Joan Holub illus. I Love You, Mom. Troll, 1998. From mothers working at home to opera-singer mothers in faraway lands, this book looks at all the different things moms can do.

Aylesworth, Jim and Pamela Patrick illus. Through the Night. Atheneum, 1998. Set in the 1940s, this warm, nostalgic story follows a father on his long drive home to his waiting family.

Baker, Liza and David McPhail illus. I Love You Because You're You. Scholastic, 2001. A charming story about a mama fox's unconditional love for her cub.

Balgassi, Haemi and Chris Soentpiet illus. Peacebound Trains. Houghton Mifflin, 2000. Longing for her mother, who is away in army service, young Sumi is consoled by her grandmother's tale of her family's escape from Seoul just before the Korean War.

Balian, Lorna. Mother's Mother's Day. Humbug Books, 1994. When Hazel the mouse goes to give her mother a Mother's Day gift, she finds her mother has gone to visit her mother, who has gone to visit her mother, and so on and so on.

Barrett, Judi and Ron Barrett illus. Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing. Aladdin, 1989. Amusing illustrations highlight this explanation of the absurdity of clothing for animals.

Bauer, Marion Dane and Peter Elwell illus. My Mother Is Mine. Simon & Schuster, 2001. Through full-page spreads of baby animals interacting with their mothers, this book explores the depths, delights, and ferocity of the mother-child bond.

Bernhard, Emery and Durga Bernhard illus. A Ride on Mother's Back: A Day of Baby Carrying Around the World. Harcourt Brace, 1996. A cultural world tour, from the chilly mountains of Guatemala, to the rain forest in Brazil, to a frozen inlet in the Arctic, that shows infants being carried by parents and grandparents and involved in daily activities. Includes background information and interesting tidbits about each culture.

Best, Cari and Giselle Potter illus. Three Cheers for Catherine the Great! DK Publishing, 1999. Sara's Russian grandmother has requested that there be no presents at her birthday party, so Sara must think of a gift from her heart.

Bogart, Jo Ellen and Barbara Reid illus. Gifts. North Winds Press, 1994. With delightful verse, a grandma brings her granddaughter souvenirs from her travels throughout the world.

Bolden, Tonya (ed). 33 Things Every Girl Should Know About Women's History From Suffragettes to Skirt Lengths to the E.R.A. Crown, 2002. For teenagers, this is an engaging, inspiring, informative look at the role women have played in American history.

Bosak, Susan V. and Laurie McGaw illus. Something to Remember Me By: An Illustrated Story for Young and Old. The Communication Project, 1997. In this moving story of maternal love and legacies, a grandmother and granddaughter share special memories through the years as it becomes clear what matters most. This book inspired the national Something to Remember Me By Legacy Project. Visit www.somethingtoremembermeby.org.

Bowen, Anne and Greg Shed illus. I Loved You Before You Were Born. Harpercollins, 2001. A sweet story about a grandmother eagerly awaiting the arrival of her grandchild; when the baby finally arrives, Grandma is ready with a special message.

Bradby, Marie and Chris Soentpiet illus. Momma, Where Are You From? A lyrical book in which an African-American mother tells her young daughter about growing up in the rural South a long time ago.

Bunting, Eve and Ronald Himler illus. A Day's Work. Houghton Mifflin, 1997. Capturing the universal immigrant experience, a Mexican-American boy helps his grandfather interpret a new world, while the grandfather still has much to teach the child about enduring values.

Bunting, Eve and Jan Brett illus. Mother's Day Mice. Clarion, 1988. It's Mother's Day and three mouse brothers -- Biggest, Middle, and Little -- have only a short time to find the perfect gift for mom.

Camp, Lindsay and Jonathan Langley illus. The Biggest Bed in the World. Harpercollins, 2000. As his family grows, a sleep-deprived dad buys bigger and bigger beds because everyone loves to sleep with mom and dad!

Carling, Amelia Lau. Mama & Papa Have a Store. Dial, 1998. A Chinese girl describes in wonderful detail a day in the life of her family's general store in the heart of Guatemala City.

Carlson, Nancy L. It's Going to be Perfect! Puffin, 2000. Tenderly comical pictures show the perfect life contrasted with the buoyantly messy reality of the love shared by parents and children.

Caseley, Judith. Dear Annie. Mulberry, 1994. Grandpa has been Annie's pen pal since the day she was born, and the written word has helped forge a close relationship between them.

Cates, Karin and Nancy Carpenter illus. A Far-Fetched Story. Greenwillow, 2002. One by one, family members go into the woods to collect firewood but instead come back to Grandmother with a far-fetched story.

Christian, Frank P., Wendy Gelsanliter and Marjorie Priceman illus. Dancin' in the Kitchen. Putnam, 1998. While making dinner at Grandma's, all three generations of a family share dancing and fun.

Cisneros, Sandra and Terry Ybanez illus. Hairs/Pelitos. Econo-Clad, 1999. A young girl describes her family, consisting of her parents, two brothers and a sister, using their different hair textures to express their individuality. English appears at the top of each page, Spanish at the bottom.

Clavel, Bernard and Yan Nascimbene illus. Castle of Books. Chronicle, 2002. Benjamin dreams of building a castle while his father dreams of writing a poem. They discover that only with each other's help will they succeed.

Cole, Joanna and Maxie Chambliss illus. How I Was Adopted: Samantha's Story. Mulberry, 1999. A young girl shares the story of how she was born and then adopted.

Cole, Joanna and Maxie Chambliss illus. I'm a Big Sister and I'm a Big Brother. William Morrow, 1997. The text of these two realistic, useful books is identical, except for the words "brother" and "sister." The books explain what babies are like, how much parents still love their older children, and help children define their identity when there's a new arrival in the family.

Collier-Morales, Roberta. Fashion Then & Now. Grosset & Dunlap, 1996. Part of the Costumes for Coloring Series, this sophisticated coloring book traces fashions from empire waists and bustles to hoop skirts, flapper dresses, and thigh-high mini-dresses.

Cook, Jean Thor and Martine Gourbault illus. Room for a Stepdaddy. Albert Whitman, 1995. Joey's stepfather, Bill, tries to be friends with him but it takes Joey some time to adjust.

Corey, Shana and Chesley McLaren illus. You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer! Scholastic, 2000. With a blend of humor, history, and panache, this tale shows how one woman's fashion statement reflected the changing role of women in society.

Cousins, Lucy. Za-Za's Baby Brother. Candlewick, 1997. Worrying that her busy parents have no more time for her after the arrival of a new baby, Za-Za bravely plays at first by herself and then with the baby, and finally gets hugs and attention from her parents.

Curtis, Jamie Lee and Laura Cornell illus. Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born. Harpercollins, 1996. An exuberant story about adoption and the importance of a loving family, a small child asks her parents to tell her again about the night of her birth.

Cusimano, Maryann and Satomi Ichikawa illus. You Are My I Love You. Philomel, 2001. Simple rhyming verse explores the day in the life of a parent and child -- full of smiles and giggles, messes and meals, boundless energy and well-earned rest.

Davol, Marguerite and Irene Trivas illus. Black, White, Just Right! Concept Books, 1993. A biracial girl explains the differences between her parents and her own "just right" mixture of the two of them.

Demas, Corinne and Ted Lewin illus. The Disappearing Island. Simon & Schuster, 2000. Carrie wonders about the mysterious island that her grandmother plans to take her to on her ninth birthday, a place that's only visible at low tide and the rest of the time remains a secret beneath the waves.

dePaola, Tomie. Nana Upstairs & Nana Downstairs. Puffin, 2000. A classic tale of a boy's love of and then loss of his great-grandmother and grandmother.

Dorros, Arthur and Elisa Kleven illus. Abuela. Puffin, 1997. Rosalba and her grandmother, her abuela, take a magical journey as they fly over the streets of Manhattan. The story is narrated in English sprinkled with Spanish phrases.

Downey, Roma and Justine Gasquet illus. Love Is A Family. Regan Books, 2001. It's Family Fun Night at school and Lily, who lives with her single mother, wishes she could go with a "real" family but soon learns that families come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.

Dunbar, Joyce and Debi Gliori illus. Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep. Harcourt Brace, 1998. Little Willa the rabbit gets some special reassurance, and a cuddle, from her brother Willoughby as she falls asleep.

Dunbar, Joyce and Debi Gliori illus. Tell Me What It's Like to Be Big. Harcourt Brace, 2001. In a sequel to the book above, siblings Willa and Willoughby explore the advantages and disadvantages of growing up.

Eastman, P.D. Are You My Mother? Random House, 1988. The classic story that follows a confused baby bird trying to find its mother.

English, Karen and Cedric Lucas illus. Big Wind Coming! Albert Whitman, 1996. An African-American family gets through a hurricane on their farm with the help of their grandparents' quiet wisdom.

English, Karen and Anna Rich illus. Just Right Stew. Boyds Mills Press, 1998. For her birthday, Big Mama's daughters want to surprise her by making her favorite dish -- oxtail stew. But they can't get the stew to taste right -- until Big Mama and her granddaughter Victoria add the secret ingredient.

Ericsson, Jennifer and Nadine Bernard Westcott illus. She Did It! Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2002. All kinds of things happen in this energetic, all-female household consisting of Mother and "four sisters, different sizes."

Flournoy, Valerie and Jerry Pinkney illus. The Patchwork Quilt. Dial, 1985. Using scraps cut from the family's old clothing, Tanya helps her grandmother make a beautiful quilt that tells the story of her family's life.

Flournoy, Valerie and Jerry Pinkney illus. Tanya's Reunion. Dial, 1995. In this sequel, Tanya visits the farm where her grandmother grew up to help prepare for a family reunion. Nothing lives up to her expectations, until she comes to see the place through her Grandma's eyes.

Friedman, Ina R. and Allen Say illus. How My Parents Learned to Eat. Houghton Mifflin, 1987. A little girl tells the story of how her American sailor father meets her Japanese mother and how -- in secret -- they learn the other's way of eating and fall in love.

Garza, Carmen Lomas. Family Pictures/Cuadros de familia. Childrens Book Press, 1993. An award-winning bilingual memoir of one family's life -- all ages and generations -- in Texas near the Mexican border.

Garza, Carmen Lomas. In My Family/En mi familia. Childrens Book Press, 2000. A sequel to Family Pictures, many Mexican-American traditions, beliefs, and customs are reflected in portraits created in words and pictures of one family's life.

Gellman, Marc and Deborah Tilley illus. Always Wear Clean Underwear: And Other Ways Parents Say I Love You. Harpercollins, 2000. An amusingly illustrated book that explores the litany of rules parents repeat time and again -- and the important life lessons behind them.

Giff, Patricia Reilly and Patricia Sims illus. Wake Up, Emily, It's Mother's Day. Yearling, 1991. Mother's Day is only two days away, and Emily Arrow's plans for the perfect present for her mother are a mess.

Gordon, Sol and Vivien Cohen illus. All Families Are Different. Prometheus, 2000. A simple exploration of all the different types of families.

Grambling, Lois G. and Walter Gaffney-Kessell illus. Daddy Will Be There. Greenwillow, 1998. A little girls plays with her blocks, rides her bike, goes to a friend's house and to her first day at school, all the while with the reassurance that each time she will be reunited with her father.

Gray, Libba Moore and Raul Colon illus. My Mama Had a Dancing Heart. Orchard, 1999. When a mother and daughter share a close, loving relationship, it carries forward to who the daughter becomes.

Greenfield, Eloise and Carole Byard illus. Grandmama's Joy. Paper Star, 1999. A portrait of the relationship between Rhondy and Grandmama that is an unfolding of love as the little girl tries to cheer up her grandmother.

Greenfield, Eloise and Floyd Cooper illus. Grandpa's Face. Paper Star, 1996. When African-American Tamika sees her beloved Grandpa practicing a mean face for a play, she learns that although his face may change, his love for her never will.

Greenfield, Eloise and John Steptoe illus. She Come Bringing Me That Little Baby Girl. HarperTrophy, 1993. When his mother brings home a baby sister instead of a baby brother, Kevin is disappointed but soon learns the pleasure of being the older brother to his baby sister.

Griffith, Helen V. and James Stevenson illus. Grandaddy and Janetta Together: The Three Stories in One Book. Greenwillow, 2001. Three great picture books about a strong and loving connection between a "country" grandfather and his "city" granddaughter -- Grandaddy's Place (1987), Grandaddy and Janetta (1993) and Grandaddy's Stars (1995) -- are collected into one chapter book with the illustrations converted to black and white.

Guarino, Deborah and Steven Kellogg illus. Is Your Mama a Llama? Scholastic, 1991. Sprightly rhymes tell the story of a little llama who asks each animal he sees, "Is your mama a llama?"

Harness, Cheryl. Remember the Ladies: 100 Great American Women. HarperCollins, 2001. A chronologically-arranged, appealing collection of profiles of notable women.

Hausherr, Rosmarie. Celebrating Families. Scholastic, 1997. A photo-essay featuring fourteen real young people who introduce the reader to their families, which range from traditional to adopted to extended.

Hautzig, Esther and Donna Diamond illus. A Gift for Mama. Puffin, 1997. Sick and tired of making presents for various holidays and occasions, Sara decides that she will do something different this Mother's Day.

Hawxhurst, Joan C. and Jane K. Bynum illus. Bubbe & Gram. Dovetail Publishing, 1996. A child learns about Christianity and Judaism from her two very different grandmothers.

Hearne, Betsy Gould and Bethanne Andersen illus. Seven Brave Women. Greenwillow, 1997. From anecdotal family reminiscences, the author has crafted a loving, forthright series of portraits in which a young girl recalls the remarkable lives of seven of her female ancestors from Revolutionary War days to the Vietnam War.

Heinemann, Sue. The New York Public Library Amazing Women in American History: A Book of Answers for Kids. John Wiley & Sons, 1998. Taking a detailed yet lively chronological and historical approach, this book uses marginalia and boxed highlights to expand on answers and includes Native American, African-American, Latina, and Asian women.

Herron, Carolivia and Joe Cepeda illus. Nappy Hair. Random House, 1998. In the African-American call-and-response tradition, this is the story of Brenda and her curly, twisty, nappy hair and how her family gently teases yet clearly shows their love for her.

Hickman, Martha Whitmore and Tim Hinton illus. Robert Lives With His Grandparents. Albert Whitman, 1995. African-American Robert is ashamed to acknowledge that he lives with his grandparents until his grandmother comes to school on Parents' Day and he learns about the living arrangements of some of his classmates.

Hines, Anna Grossnickle. Grandma Gets Grumpy. Clarion, 1988. A realistic story about the special -- but not perfect! -- relationship between a grandmother and her five grandchildren.

Hoban, Russell and Lillian Hoban illus. A Baby Sister for Frances. HarperTrophy, 1993. A tender, comical tale about Frances the badger and how her parents reassure her that she is just as important as her new baby sister.

Hoberman, Mary Ann and Marylin Hafner illus. Fathers, Mothers, Sisters, Brothers: A Collection of Family Poems. Little Brown, 2001. "Whether there's ten or there's two in your family,/All of your family plus you is a family!" A lively, witty exploration of all kinds and members of families.

Hood, Susan and Ed Resto illus. The Bestest Mom. Simon Spotlight, 1998. What can the Rugrats give their moms for Mother's Day? This sweet story follows Chuckie as he finds a special answer.

Howard, Elizabeth Fitzgerald and James Ransome illus. Aunt Flossie's Hats and Crab Cakes Later. Clarion, 1995. Sunday afternoons are special for Sarah and Susan because that's when they visit Great-Great-Aunt Flossie and explore her memorable collection of hats, each with its own special story.

Howard, Elizabeth Fitzgerald and Cedric Lucas illus. What's in Aunt Mary's Room. Clarion, 1996. In this sequel to the book above, Susan and Sarah always wondered what was in the locked room (late Aunt Mary's room); they help their Great-Great-Aunt Flossie find the key and discover a family Bible dating back to the mid-nineteenth century in which they are allowed to add their names.

Hudson, Wade and Cheryl Willis Hudson (eds). In Praise of Our Fathers and Our Mothers: A Black Family Treasury by Outstanding Authors and Artists. Just Us Books, 1998. A book for young and old to read together in which more than 40 writers and artists share their memories and images of families and role models through essays, anecdotes, stories, poetry, interviews, and illustrations.

Hunt, Nan and Deborah Niland illus. Families Are Funny. Orchard, 1992. A cheery survey of a boy's rather funny family, which comes through in the end when he needs them most.

Hurwitz, Hilda Abramson, Hope Wasburn and Mara H. Wasburn (ed). Dear Hope... Love Grandma. Alef, 1995. In this collection of authentic letters, Hope's grandmother reveals the richness of her life in the early 1900s, her participation in the Jewish community, and her life wisdom.

Igus, Toyomi and Daryl Wells illus. Two Mrs. Gibsons. Childrens Book Press, 2001. A young girl pays tribute to the two most important women in her life -- her Japanese mother and her African-American grandmother.

Jarrell, Randall and Maurice Sendak illus. The Animal Family. Harpercollins, 1996. A dreamy story about a lonely hunter, a mermaid, and the numerous animal additions that make up their family.

Jocelyn, Marthe. Hannah and the Seven Dresses. Dutton, 1999. Hannah can never decide which of her lovely dresses to wear, until she assigns each a day of the week. On her birthday she wears them all, but soon decides to wear pants from then on.

Johnson, Angela and Rhonda Mitchell illus. Daddy Calls Me Man. Orchard, 2000. Through four short poems, a young African-American boy compares his shoes with his father's, spins with his older sister, wonders about the moon shining in his room, and receives praise from his parents when he shares with his baby sister.

Johnson, Angela and Shane Evans illus. Down the Winding Road. Dorling Kindersley, 2000. An African-American family makes their annual summer visit, filled with joy and good times, to the Old Ones.

Johnson, Angela and David Soman illus. Tell Me a Story, Mama. Orchard, 1992. A young girl and her mother remember together all the girl's favorite stories about her mother's childhood.

Johnson, Angela and David Soman illus. When I Am Old With You. Orchard, 1993. An affectionate tale of an African-American child who looks forward to getting old and doing the same things with his grandfather that he does now.

Johnson, Dolores. Your Dad Was Just Like You. Simon & Schuster, 1993. After a problem with his father, Peter wants to move in with his grandfather until he comes to understand that his father was once a boy just like him.

Jonell, Lynne and Petra Mathers illus. Mom Pie. Putnam, 2001. Brothers Christopher and Robbie create a pie made up of all the things that make their mother special to them.

Jones, Joy and Terry Widener illus. Tambourine Moon. Simon & Schuster, 1999. A moonlit night and a tambourine link past and present for Noni and her Grandaddy as he tells her how he met her grandmother.

Jukes, Mavis and Lloyd Bloom illus. Like Jake and Me. Knopf, 1987. Timid Alex strives to be like his rugged cowboy stepfather, and the two find a common bond when Alex "rescues" Jake from a wolf spider.

Kasza, Keiko. A Mother for Choco. Scott Foresman, 1996. Choco, a lonely little bird, searches for a mother and finds that Mrs. Bear is the perfect choice.

Katz, Karen. Over the Moon: An Adoption Tale. Henry Holt, 2001. A magical, reassuring story about a couple who travels to a faraway place to adopt their newborn daughter.

Keenan, Sheila. Scholastic Encyclopedia of Women in the United States. Scholastic, 2002. From Native Americans to recent immigrants, artists to athletes, politicians to poets, this book introduces you to more than 250 women grouped into six chronological chapters from the 1500s to present day.

Keller, Holly. Horace. Greenwillow, 1991. Horace, a leopard who is the adopted child of tiger parents, sets out to find a family he more closely resembles, but becomes homesick.

King, Stephen Michael. A Special Kind of Love. Scholastic, 1996. A boy loves his father; the father loves boxes; the father makes castles, airplanes, and other wonderful toys from the boxes for his son as a way of expressing his love.

Kroll, Virginia and Stacey Schuett illus. Beginnings: How Families Come to Be. Concept Books, 1994. Short dialogues tell the stories of six children and all the different ways in which families are made, from traditional nuclear arrangements to foster parenting to adoption.

Lewis, Rose A. and Jane Dyer illus. I Love You Like Crazy Cakes. Little Brown, 2000. A touching, true story about mother love, it follows a woman on her journey to adopt a baby girl from China.

Lindbergh, Reeve and R. Isadora illus. Grandfather's Lovesong. Puffin, 1995. A poetic description of a grandfather's love for his grandson, using nature metaphors through the seasons.

Lindsay, Jeanne Warren and Jami Moffett illus. Do I Have a Daddy? Morning Glory Press, 2000. A sensitive story that follows a single mother as she explains to her son that his daddy left soon after he was born. Includes a section with suggestions for parents on answering the question, "Do I have a daddy?"

Lowry, Lois. Looking Back:A Book of Memories. Delacorte, 2000. An album memoir for both children and adults in which the author shares her own family photos and reflections in a touching, evocative style.

MacDonald, Fiona. Clothing and Jewelry. Crabtree, 2001. With detailed photos and illustrations, this book takes a look at clothing and jewelry from ancient times to today.

MacLachlan, Patricia and Mike Wimmer illus. All the Places to Love. HarperCollins, 1994. A young boy describes his favorite places on his grandparents' farm and their connection to his family legacy.

Madrigal, Antonio Hernández and Tomie dePaola illus. Erandi's Braids. Puffin, 2001. In this tale of love and sacrifice, when the merchants come to Erandi's Mexican village to buy hair for wigs, Erandi offers her beloved, thick braids so Mama can get a new fishing net.

Maloney, Peter and Felicia Zekauskas illus. His Mother's Nose. Dial, 2001. In this perceptive and humorous story, Percival gets tired of being told he has his mother's nose, his father's eyes, his uncle's head for numbers, and other traits from different family members. But when he runs away to his grandparent's house, he comes to realize that there is no one quite like him.

Manning, Mick and Brita Granstrom illus. Supermom. Albert Whitman, 2001. A simple look at the nurturing nature of and similarities between animal and human mothers -- and all of them are super!

Marsden, John. Prayer for the Twenty-First Century. Star Bright Books, 1998. Brilliantly illustrated with paintings, photos, and collages, this compelling call from the heart contains a message of hope that is a legacy we would wish for all our loved ones.

Martin Jr., Bill, John Archambault and Ted Rand illus. Knots on a Counting Rope. Henry Holt, 1997. The story of a Native American grandfather and grandson sharing family stories that give the boy love, courage, and hope.

McBratney, Sam and Anita Jeram illus. Guess How Much I Love You. Candlewick, 1995. Every time Little Nutbrown Hare shows Big Nutbrown Hare how much he loves him, Big Nutbrown Hare returns the love even more.

McFarlane, Sheryl and Ron Lightburn illus. Waiting for the Whales. Orca, 1991. An old man has only the whales in the nearby ocean to keep him company until his granddaughter gives him a renewed purpose in life.

McKissack, Patricia C. and Floyd Cooper illus. Ma Dear's Aprons. Aladdin, 2000. The story of a week in the life of a turn-of-the-century African-American boy and his mother, little David Earl always knows what day of the week it is by the color of apron Ma Dear is wearing.

Merriam, Eve and Eugenie Fernandes illus. Mommies at Work. Aladdin, 1996. Positively depicts mothers doing all kinds of different jobs outside the home, with their favorite thing "coming home to you."

Micklos, Jr., John (ed) and Robert Casilla illus. Daddy Poems. Boyds Mills Press, 2000. A compilation of poems that celebrate the fundamental importance of the role of father.

Micklos, Jr., John (ed) and Lori McElrath-Eslick illus. Mommy Poems. Boyds Mills Press, 2001. A compilation of 18 poems that traces the cycle of a day and the strong connections between mother and child.

Miles, Miska and Peter Parnall illus. Annie and the Old One. Little, Brown, 1971. Annie's Navajo world is good -- until she recognizes that her grandmother is going to die and must learn to accept the cycle of life.

Mills, Claudia and Catherine Stock illus. Gus and Grandpa, Gus and Grandpa and the Christmas Cookies, Gus and Grandpa Ride the Train, Gus and Grandpa and the Two-Wheeled Bike, Gus and Grandpa at the Hospital, Gus and Grandpa and Show-and-Tell. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999-2001. A series of books about the close relationship between and adventures of Gus and his grandfather.

Mitchell, Barbara and Todd Doney illus. Red Bird. Lothrop Lee & Shepard, 1996. Katie leaves the city and goes with her family to an annual autumn powwow, where "Katie" becomes "Red Bird" and celebrates, along with hundreds of other Native Americans, her culture and proud heritage.

Monk, Isabell and Janice Lee Porter illus. Hope. Carolrhoda Books, 1999. During a visit with her great-aunt, a young girl learns the story behind her name and to feel proud of her "mixed" heritage.

Monk, Isabell and Janice Lee Porter illus. Family. Lerner, 2001. A sequel to Hope, there's fun in store when Hope visits her country relatives for a family reunion.

Mora, Pat and Cecily Lang illus. A Birthday Basket for Tia. Aladdin, 1997. To celebrate her great-aunt's 90th birthday, Mexican-American Cecilia gathers together a basket full of cherished memories.

Morrison, Lillian (ed) and Ann Boyajian illus. More Spice Than Sugar: Poems About Feisty Females. Houghton Mifflin, 2001. A collection of poems by both contemporary and classic writers celebrating high-spirited girls and women, from young rebels to hardy pioneers to mavericks, athletes, and heroines.

Munsch, Robert and Sheila McGraw illus. Love You Forever. Firefly, 1986. The popular, sentimental book about a mother's enduring love for her son as he grows from a young boy to a married man.

Munsch, Robert and Michael Martchenko illus. Thomas' Snowsuit. Firefly, 1989. Thomas refuses to wear his new snowsuit despite the pleas of his mother, his teacher, and even the principal.

Neitzel, Shirley and Nancy Winslow Parker illus. The Dress I'll Wear to the Party. Mulberry, 1995. This cumulative story follows a little girl as she dresses up in her mother's clothes and then disassembles the outfit in favor of her own party clothes.

Nolen, Jerdine and Colin Bootman illus. In My Momma's Kitchen. HarperTrophy, 2001. A closely knit African-American family shares a variety of activities, like making corn pudding or soup and having relatives visit, in the most important room in the house.

Numeroff, Laura Joffe and Lynn Munsinger illus. What Mommies Do Best, What Daddies Do Best. Simon & Schuster, 1998. This charming book, which is really two books (a Mommy version and a Daddy version) back-to-back, is filled with animal characters showing all the familiar things parents do.

Numeroff, Laura Joffe and Lynn Munsinger illus. What Grandmas Do Best, What Grandpas Do Best. Simon & Schuster, 2000. Like the book above, read one way this book celebrates the joyful relationship between children and their grandmas, and read the other way it's about the fun children have with their grandpas.

Oberman, Sheldon and Ted Lewin illus. The Always Prayer Shawl. Boyds Mills Press, 1994. A prayer shawl is handed down from grandfather to grandson in a story of Jewish tradition and the passing of generations.

Parr, Todd. The Mommy Book. Megan Tingley Books, 2002. There are all kinds of mommies -- some go shopping, some go fishing, some drive minivans, some drive motorcycles.

Pellegrini, Nina. Families Are Different. Holiday House, 1991. After voicing concern that she looks different from her parents, an adopted Korean girl is able to find many different types of families in her own classroom, including interracial, single-parent, and blended families.

Pellegrino, Marjorie White and John Lund illus. My Grandma's The Mayor. Magination, 2000. A story that portrays Annie's grandmother as a strong, confident woman and community leader, and shows how Annie learns to share her grandmother.

Penn, Audrey and Ruth Harper and Nancy Leak illus. The Kissing Hand. Child Welfare League, 1993. When Chester the raccoon is reluctant to go to kindergarten for the first time, his mother teaches him a secret way to carry her love with him.

Polacco, Patricia. The Keeping Quilt. Simon & Schuster, 1998. A homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of a Jewish family.

Prigger, Mary Skillings and Betsy Lewin illus. Aunt Minnie McGranahan. Clarion, 1999. When Minnie is suddenly responsible for nine orphaned nieces and nephews, her neighbors doubt she can handle them but Minnie has the perfect system to manage her new family.

Rattigan, Jama Kim and Lillian Hsu-Flanders illus. Dumpling Soup. Little, Brown, 1998. Marisa makes dumpling soup with all the other women in the family and gets some special encouragement from grandma.

Roe, Eileen and Robert Casilla illus. With My Brother/Con Mi Hermano. Econo-Clad, 1999. A bilingual account of a warm relationship between brothers.

Rosenberg, Liz and Stephen Gammell illus. Monster Mama. Paper Star, 1997. Mama may be a "monster" who lives in a cave in the back of the house, but she also paints (her true calling, it seems), gardens, bakes cookies, and protects her son Patrick Edward when he is bullied.

Rowland-Warne, L. Costume. Dorling Kindersley, 2000. Photos and text document the history and meaning of clothing, from loincloths to modern children's clothes.

Russo, Marisabina. When Mama Gets Home. Greenwillow, 1998. The three children of a single-parent mother wait for her to get home from work, and then they enjoy their time together.

Ryan, Pam Munoz and Benrei Huang illus. One Hundred is a Family. Hyperion, 1996. Families in all shapes and sizes are the subject of this rhyming counting book.

Rylant, Cynthia and Stephen Gammell illus. The Relatives Came. Aladdin, 1993. A lively description of a visit by a large family that celebrates family connections and affection.

Rylant, Cynthia and Diane Goode illus. When I Was Young in the Mountains. E.P. Dutton, 1982. A gentle story about a girl growing up in the Appalachian mountains with her grandparents.

Say, Allen. Allison. Houghton Mifflin, 1997. When Allison tries on the red kimono her grandmother has sent her, she is suddenly aware that she resembles her favorite doll more than her parents and withdraws until she comes to understand the real meaning of adoption and parental love.

Schotter, Roni and Cyd Moore illus. Missing Rabbit. Clarion, 2002. Kara goes to Papa's house, where they eat "oodles of noodles" and play hide-and-seek, and to Mama's house, where they eat chicken and rice and dance, but leaves her stuffed rabbit behind when it's time to leave either house.

Schreck, Karen Halvorsen and Stephen Gassler III illus. Lucy's Family Tree. Tilbury House, 2001. Lucy, an adopted child from Mexico, finds it difficult to do a family tree for a school assignment. Includes ideas for alternatives to the traditional family tree.

Senisi, Ellen B. For My Family, Love, Allie. Albert Whitman, 1998. Illustrated by lively photographs, this story follows Allie as she wants to make a special dessert for her extended family barbecue.

Seuss, Dr. and Roy McKie illus. My Book about Me By Me, Myself. Random House, 1969. A great book that encourages children to find out about themselves, while having fun writing and drawing their own biographies.

Sgouros, Charissa and Christine Ross illus. A Pillow for My Mom. Walter Lorraine, 1998. A poignant and touching story about a young child dealing with the loss of her mother.

Shannon, George and David Soman illus. This Is the Bird. Houghton Mifflin, 1997. A cumulative tale about a wooden bird carved by a girl's maternal ancestor and lovingly passed down from mother to daughter through the generations.

Shaw, Eve. Grandmother's Alphabet. Scholastic, 2001. The message of this empowering alphabet book is simple: Grandma can be a zoologist, artist, banker, carpenter, doctor, engineer... and so can I.

Shields, Carol Diggory and Hiroe Nakata illus. Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate. Dutton, 2000. A little boy and his grandfather share a special weekend doing things they both like to do. This story seems to be told by the child -- but on the last page we realize Grandpa has been the one telling it!

Shough, Carol Gandee. All the Mamas. Summerhouse Press, 1998. Based on the author's own family history, this story recounts generations of mothers (tying each individual to historical events) and the daughters they loved and cared for.

Simon, Norma and Joe Lasker illus. All Kinds of Families. Albert Whitman, 1976. Families may come from different backgrounds and cultures, and they may not all look the same, but the thing they all have in common is that they love one another.

Soto, Gary and Terry Widener illus. If the Shoe Fits. Putnam, 2002. Rigo, the youngest in a big immigrant family, must always wear hand-me-downs. He's thrilled to get a new pair of shoes, but when he outgrows them he is able to "hand them down" to his uncle who can use them for his new job as a waiter.

Spinelli, Emily and Jane Dyer illus. When Mama Comes Home Tonight. Aladdin, 2002. A mother returns home from work and sweetly celebrates with her child their precious time together with warm rituals, cuddling, playing, eating, and lullabies.

Stanek, Muriel and Judith Friedman illus. I Speak English for My Mom. Albert Whitman, 1989. In this story many immigrant families will relate to, a young girl helps her mother communicate in an unfamiliar language until the mother goes to school to learn English.

Thiesing, Lisa. Me & You: A Mother-Daughter Album. Hyperion, 2000. A whimsical, heartwarming story with watercolor illustrations that look like a "photo album," it highlights similarities between a mother when she was a baby and her young daughter.

Thimmesh, Catherine and Melissa Sweet illus. Girls Think of Everything: Stories of Ingenious Inventions by Women. Houghton Mifflin, 2000. Illustrated with mixed-media collages, these are stories of how women have come up with solutions to challenges by inventing items like correction fluid, space helmets, and disposable diapers.

Thimmesh, Catherine and Melissa Sweet illus. The Sky's the Limit: Stories of Discovery by Women and Girls. Houghton Mifflin, 2002. Illustrated with innovative collages, these are stories of the work of a variety of women and girls in fields like astronomy, biology, anthropology, and medicine.

Thomassie, Tynia and Jan Spivey Gilchrist illus. Mimi's Tutu. Scholastic, 1996. Longing for a special tutu for an upcoming recital, Mimi gets some help from her mother, aunts, and grandmother who make her a "lapa" skirt and teach her about part of her African-American heritage.

Torres, Leyla. Liliana's Grandmothers. Farrar Straus & Giroux, 1998. One of Liliana's grandmothers, Mima, lives in New England while the other, Mama Gabina, lives in tropical Colombia. Liliana loves them both and does different things with each.

Vigna, Judith. Grandma Without Me. Albert Whitman, 1984. A young boy finds ways to keep in touch with grandma despite his parents' divorce.

Wheeler, Lisa and Frank Ansley illus. Wool Gathering: A Sheep Family Reunion. Atheneum, 2001. This delightfully wooly tale about a family reunion celebrates all the different characters that make up any family.

Wild, Margaret and Julie Vivas illus. Our Granny. Houghton Mifflin, 1994. From the intimacy of one family to the rich diversity of all kinds of people, this exuberant book, told from the perspective of a small child, celebrates grandmothers.

Williams, Vera B. A Chair for My Mother. Greenwillow, 1984. After a fire destroys their home and possessions, Rosa, her mother, and her grandmother save their money to buy a big, comfortable chair they can all share.

Wing, Natasha and Robert Casilla illus. Jalapeno Bagels. Atheneum, 1996. While trying to decide what to take for his school's International Day, Pablo helps his Mexican mother and Jewish father at their bakery and comes up with a food that represents both his parents' backgrounds.

Winthrop, Elizabeth and Joan Sandin illus. As the Crow Flies. Clarion, 1998. A reassuring story about a divorced father's annual one-week visit with his son Michael.

Wolf, Bernard. Homeless. Orchard, 1995. Vivid, candid color photos capture eight-year-old Mikey and his family -- mother, stepfather, and three younger siblings -- facing the challenges of being caught up in New York's welfare system. Realistic and sympathetic without being patronizing.

Wong, Janet S. and John Wallace illus. Grump. Margaret McElderry Books, 2001. Why is frazzled Mommy grumpy when Baby dumps applesauce-ketchup gravy all over himself and the floor?

Wong, Janet S. and Jennifer Hewitson illus. The Rainbow Hand: Poems About Mothers and Children. Margaret McElderry Books, 1999. A collection of 18 original, illustrated poems -- some from the mother's point of view, some from the child's -- for young and old to share.

Wood, Douglas and Doug Cushman illus. What Dads Can't Do. Simon & Schuster, 2000. Featuring irresistible dinos, this book explores the things dads can't do -- like cross the street without holding hands and finding you when playing hide-and-seek.

Wood, Douglas and Doug Cushman illus. What Moms Can't Do. Simon & Schuster, 2001. Featuring the same dinos as above, this book explores the things moms can't do -- like push a grocery cart fast enough or let go of a hug without a kiss or two or five.

Woodtor, Dee Parmer and Dolores Johnson illus. Big Meeting. Atheneum, 1996. It's August and family members from far and wide travel across the wooden bridge at Pigeon Creek to gather with their kin in a special yearly reunion.

Wyeth, Sharon Dennis and Raul Colon illus. Always My Dad. Dragonfly, 1997. A warm, sensitive portrayal of an African-American girl's rare visit with her father while she is staying at her grandparents' farm one summer.

Yolen, Jane, Heidi Stemple and Gil Ashby illus. Dear Mother, Dear Daughter: Poems for Young People. Boyds Mills Press, 2001. Written by a mother-daughter team, on each left-hand page a pre-teen daughter writes to her mom about topics like homework, body image, and using the phone; on the opposite page, her mom writes back with empathy and wisdom.

Ziefert, Harriet and Anita Lobel illus. A New Coat for Anna. Knopf, 1990. A fresh and moving story of a mother's dedication to acquire a coat for her daughter in post-World War II hard times.

Ziefert, Harriet and Cynthia Jabar illus. Daddies Are for Catching Fireflies and Mommies Are for Counting Stars. Puffin, 1999. Part of a series of four lift-the-flap books that recount the things various family members do and children's reactions to them (e.g. "A daddy shaves" and under the flap "And is good to smell").

Ziefert, Harriet and Jennifer Plecas illus. Grandmas Are for Giving Tickles and Grandpas Are for Finding Worms. Puffin, 2000. Part of the above series of four lift-the-flap books.

Zisk, Mary. The Best Single Mom in the World: How I Was Adopted. Albert Whitman, 2001. A parent and child share in the telling of the mother's work with an agency to find "a child to adopt, to love, and take care of forever."

Zolotow, Charlotte and Martha Alexander illus. Big Sister and Little Sister. HarperTrophy, 1990. At first, big sister takes care of little sister, but soon they learn how much they need each other.

Zolotow, Charlotte and Ashley Wolff illus. Some Things Go Together. HarperFestival, 1999. Couplets throughout this book -- "peace with dove, home with love, and you with me" -- show that some things truly do go together, and are accompanied by loving portraits of adults and children.

Zolotow, Charlotte and Anita Lobel illus. This Quiet Lady. HarperCollins, 2000. A young girl takes the reader on a journey through time as she looks at photographs of her mother as a baby, young girl, student, bride, and then as a mother.